Philippine E-Journals

CONTROVERSY BETWEEN “PRO-AMERICAN” AND NATIONAL¬IST FILIPINOS IN ALBAY, CONCERNING THE ACCEPTANCE OF AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY IN 1900

Elias M. Ataviado

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

At the outbreak of hostilities between Americans and Fili­pinos on February 4, 1899, all ports in the Philippines not occupied by the Americans were blockaded, thus cutting off the export of products from these ports. For this reason, hemp (guembe) which was a basic material used primarily in the manufacture of cordage, became so scarce in the United States that American manufacturers of this product had to make ne­gotiations with the government at Washington for the imme­diate occupation and opening of ports from which hemp was expoited. Following instructions from Washington, the Com­manding General of the American forces in the Philippines or­dered the occupation and opening of the ports in the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Samar, and Leyte, during the months of January and February of 1900.